THE LAND OF THE DANCING CRANE. 25 



of molten metal, and wherever a fish leaped 

 from the water a blaze of seeming fire ap- 

 peared. 



" Take some of the water up/' said the doc- 

 tor to Dick, who was dashing an oar into the 

 water to see the great waves of light that fol- 

 lowed, handing him a tall glass for examining 

 delicate specimens. 



Dick reached down and filled it with the 

 gleaming liquid. Upon examination, they saw 

 the cause of the phosphorescence. Innumerable 

 minute animals threw out the light, like so many 

 electric lamps. The doctor pronounced them 

 NoctiluccB, while little crustaceans in the water 

 undoubtedly added to the illumination. Intro- 

 ducing a stick and whirling it about, Dick took 

 out his watch and could almost make out the 

 time by the living light an experiment which 

 was successfully carried out upon another occa- 

 sion. 



"It's freshening up," said Captain Ellis, 

 coming forward and pointing to a slight ruffle 

 on the water, "and I propose w r e get under 

 way." 



